RV AC Not Blowing Air? Could Be Blend Door Actuator

If you’re gearing up for a roadtrip or preparing the RV for a guest, and you notice the air conditioner running but no airflow coming from the vents then the issue could be fairly simple. In this article we’ll expand on the fix, explore why your RV AC might not be blowing air.

Why Your RV AC Isn’t Blowing Air

When the air conditioner seems to be running (you may hear the compressor or the fan), but no meaningful air is coming out of the vents (or the airflow is weak), the root causes often revolve around airflow issues in the HVAC system.

The Fix

Here’s what I did:

  1. I removed the blower motor and filter cover then I turned on the fan and listened for the blower motor to make sure it was working
  2. I removed the cabin air filter behind the return grille and checked for air flow(replace cabin air filter if dirty).
  3. I checked that all the interior vents were open and that nothing (furniture, curtains, luggage) was blocking airflow in the duct path.
  4. Then I manually turned the blend door to make sure it was working. At this point I concluded that the actuator had failed.

Conclusion

A malfunctioning RV AC that runs but doesn’t blow air may sound serious — and sometimes it is — but in this case the culprit was something as simple as the blend door actuator.

If you’ve gone through the checklist and still aren’t getting airflow, then its wise to call in a technician.

If you’re new to renting out your RV, check out my post on the 5 hidden expenses that eat into your rental income.